Work Hard, Play Hard!

With first year of university done, I've made some great friends, had many great experiences and even learned a thing or two along the way.

This semester, I took Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Math. From gene manipulation to genetics, biology was both challenging and very enjoyable! In calculus, I found a deep interest in integration! Each question was like a little puzzle, and that really made the puzzle-solver in me love calculus. The extraordinary teaching staff at McGill really knows their material and how to deliver it well. Although I worked hard in school, I found balance and was able to do so much more!

In March, I led a team of 6 McGill students to Belize as part of ISL-H.E.A.R.T., an international health care mission team which I facilitate. I ensured that our students were well trained in clinical assessment (vitals, physical assessment, patient history, etc). They performed excellently while working in 3 remote clinics in Belize! During our time there we helped over 100 patients receive free healthcare, an achievement which makes me immensely proud of my team!

I also became involved in student government. As VP Communication of the Freshmen Undergraduate Science Society, I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with the first-year science student body this year! We’ve promoted the distribution of NTC (note taking clubs) notes, in order to help my fellow classmates improve their grades. We've held emotional support activities, such as free chocolate, hugs, and BBQ, before and during the exam season to boost morale and inject some fun into exam season. FUSS has provided me a platform to promote change and well-being at McGill- something I’ve always tried to do.

Lastly, I've continued working at the Meakins-Christie Laboratory under Dr.Simon Rousseau. In his lab, I've been analyzing the biochemical pathways associated with inflammation in human epithelial cells (such as in the lungs) and how inflammation relates to tissue degradation in patients with Cystic Fibrosis. I'm currently working here this summer, and working on 3 projects! I have learned an immense amount during my time here, and am very grateful to Dr.Rousseau and his amazing team, who have trained me over the past year.

McGill is an amazing institution and my experience here as caused me to grow as a scientist, student, humanitarian, and overall, as a human-being. I am so grateful for my time here; I would not change it for anything!